Card game

ABSTRACT

The invention is a three-card-stud game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker deck of 52 cards. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game; one of the players is the Banker whom other players play against; a Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker&#39;s hand and/or 7 Points Or Better Bet betting on the contents of the Player&#39;s own hand. After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt three cards. To win a Poker Bet wager, a Player&#39;s hand must rank higher than the Banker&#39;s hand. To wins a 7 Points Or Better Bet wager, a Player&#39;s hand must be 7 Points or better. The Poker Bet wager and 7 Points Or Better Bet wager are independent wagers and are settled separately.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from part 12 “Aces Thrill” of the following U.S. provisional patent applications: Serial No. 60/193,309 filed Mar. 30, 2000, which is incorporated by the reference.

[0002] A Portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. I, Henry Lo, the copyright owner, have no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the PTO patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention generally relates to card games and, in particular, to card games for use in casinos and cardrooms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention is offered under the trademark of “Aces Thrill.” The invention is a three-card-stub game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker decks of 52 cards. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game. One of the players is the Banker whom other players play against. A Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker's hand and/or 7 Points Or Better Bet betting on the contents of the Player's own hand. After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt three cards.

[0005] POKER BET

[0006] Poker Bet is a bet that allows a Player to place a wager playing against the Banker's hand. The object of Poker Bet is to have a hand that outranks the Banker's hand. In the Poker Bet game, the Player's hand is compared to the Banker's hand according to the following selected rankings, wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 3 of a Kind, One Pair and Point Count.

[0007] Rank

[0008] 1

[0009] 2

[0010] 3

[0011] Hand

[0012] 3 of a Kind

[0013] One Pair

[0014] Point Count

[0015] A 3 of a Kind hand is a hand that consists of three identical cards. There are thirteen 3 of a Kind hands: 3 Aces (the highest rank of 3 of a Kind hands), 3 Kings, 3 Queens, 3 Jacks, 3 Tens, 3 Nines, 3 Eights, 3 Sevens, 3 Sixes, 3 Fives, 3 Fours, 3 Threes and 3 Twos (the lowest rank of 3 of a Kind hands). And they are ranked and compared the same way as traditional poker hands.

[0016] A One Pair hand is a hand that consists of two identical cards. There are thirteen One Pair hands: Pair of Aces (the highest rank of One Pair hands), Pair of Kings, Pair of Queens, Pair of Jacks, Pair of Tens, Pair of Nines, Pair of Eights, Pair of Sevens, Pair of Sixes, Pair of Fives, Pair of Fours, Pair of Threes and Pair of Twos (the lowest rank of One Pair hands). And they are ranked and compared the same way as traditional poker hands.

[0017] A Point Count hand is a hand that consists of three unmatched cards. The Point Count of a hand is obtained by adding the count value of each of the three cards together the same way as the point count of a Baccarat hand is obtained. Point Count hands range from “0” to “9” Points; therefore, the Point Count of the total count value of any three cards can not be greater than 9 Points or less than 0 Point. When the total count value equals ten or more, only the last digit counts as the Point Count of the hand. For example, the Point Count of a hand consisting of three cards 2, 3 and 4, is 9 Points (2+3+4=9, Point Count=9); the Point Count of a hand of 6, 8 and 9, is 3 Points (6+8+9=23, Point Count=3). There are 10 different point count hands and they are ranked in descending as follows: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 Point.

[0018] Thirteen individual cards count as follows: Card Count Value Two 2 Three 3 Four 4 Five 5 Six 6 Seven 7 Eight 8 Nine 9 Ten, Jack, Queen or King 0 Ace 1

[0019] A Player's Poker Bet wager can be settled with either one of the following rules, whichever is selected for the Poker Bet game:

[0020] Rules 1

[0021] If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand, the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If a Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money (1 to 1), less a certain percent commission, preferably a 5% commission.

[0022] Rules 2

[0023] If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand or if the Player and the Banker have one of the predetermined Player losing tied hands (When a Player and the Banker have a same ranking hand, it is called a tied hand. When a Player and the Banker have a tied hand and that is considered a losing hand to the Player, it is called a Player losing tied hand.), then the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player and the Banker have a tied hand that is not one of the predetermined Player losing tied hands, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money (1 to 1).

[0024] Rules 3

[0025] If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand or if the Player and the Banker have a tie hand of 1,,2, or 3 Points, then the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player and the Banker have a tied hand that is not 1, 2 or 3 Points, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money (1 to 1)

[0026] Rules 4

[0027] If the Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, the Player wins and either is paid even money (1 to 1) if the Banker's losing hand is not a predetermined hand that pays the winning wager one half of the wager (1 to 2), or is paid one half of the wager (1 to 2) if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined hand that pays the winning wager one half of the wager (1 to 2). The predetermined hand can be designed to be a hand of either 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 Points

[0028] 7 POINTS OR BETTER BET

[0029] 7 Points Or Better Bet allows a Player to place a wager on the contents of his or her own unseen hand. The Player's wager wins if his or her hand is 7 Points, 8 Points, 9 Points, One Pair or 3 of a Kind; and this wager loses if the Player's hand is not one of the above winning hands. The winning wager is paid according to either one of the following pay tables:

[0030] Pay Table 1: Hand Payout Odds Three Aces 50 to 1 3 Twos through 3 Kings 35 to 1 Two Aces  5 to 1 2 Twos through 2 Kings  1 to 1 7, 8 or 9 Points  1 to 1

[0031] Pay Table 1 yields a house advantage of about 2.3%. Alternatively, any other appropriate pay table can be used.

[0032] Pay Table 2: Hand Payout Odds Three Aces 50 to 1 3 Twos through 3 Kings 30 to 1 Two Aces  3 to 1 2 Nines through 2 Kings  3 to 2 2 Twos through 2 Eights  1 to 1 7, 8 or 9 Points  1 to 1

[0033] Pay Table 2 yields a house advantage of about 2.63%. Alternatively, any other appropriate pay table can be used.

[0034] Once having delivered the cards to all players, the dealer turns over the Banker's three cards with only the top card exposed. After reading their cards, each Player then places his or her cards face down on the appropriate space of the table layout The dealer then reveals the Banker's two remaining cards, settles each Player's 7 Points Or Better Bet wager first if any, and then each Player's Poker Bet wager if any, against the Banker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035]FIG. 1 shows a Player's betting area of the table layout of the invention: 101 is 7 Points Or Better Bet spot; 102, Poker Bet spot; 103, the Player's cards space.

[0036]FIG. 2 shows the table layout of the preferred version of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] In the preferred embodiment of the invention provides a three-card-stud game, played with one standard poker deck of 52 cards. Other embodiments include versions that would be played with two or more standard poker decks of 52 cards.

[0038] In the preferred embodiment, the invention offers seven positions, six Players and one Banker; table size, management of players, players' bets, and speed of play are the key reasons for the choice of seven positions. In other embodiments, lesser or greater than seven positions can be created in accordance with this invention. A Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker's hand and/or 7 Points Or Better Bet betting on the contents of the Player's own unseen hand.

[0039] POKER BET

[0040] Poker Bet is a bet that allows a Player to place a wager playing against the Banker's hand. The object of Poker Bet is to have a hand that outranks the Banker's hand. In the Poker Bet game, the Player's hand is compared to the Banker's hand according to the following selected rankings, wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 3 of a Kind, One Pair and Point Count.

[0041] Rank

[0042] 1

[0043] 2

[0044] 3

[0045] Hand

[0046] 3 of a Kind

[0047] One Pair

[0048] Point Count

[0049] A 3 of a Kind hand is a hand that consists of three identical cards. There are thirteen 3 of a Kind hands: 3 Aces (the highest rank of 3 of a Kind hands), 3 Kings, 3 Queens, 3 Jacks, 3 Tens, 3 Nines, 3 Eights, 3 Sevens, 3 Sixes, 3 Fives, 3 Fours, 3 Threes and 3 Twos (the lowest rank of 3 of a Kind hands). And they are ranked and compared the same way as traditional poker hands.

[0050] A One Pair hand is a hand that consists of two identical cards. There are thirteen One Pair hands: Pair of Aces (the highest rank of One Pair hands), Pair of Kings, Pair of Queens, Pair of Jacks, Pair of Tens, Pair of Nines, Pair of Eights, Pair of Sevens, Pair of Sixes, Pair of Fives, Pair of Fours, Pair of Threes and Pair of Twos (the lowest rank of One Pair hands). And they are ranked and compared the same way as traditional poker hands.

[0051] A Point Count hand is a hand that consists of three unmatched cards. The Point Count of a hand is obtained by adding the count value of each of the three cards together the same way as the point count of a Baccarat hand is obtained. Point Count hands range from “0” to “9” Points; therefore, the Point Count of the total count value of any three cards can not be greater than 9 Points or less than 0 Point. When the total count value equals ten or more, only the last digit counts as the Point Count of the hand. For example, the Point Count of a hand consisting of three cards 2, 3 and 4, is 9 Points (2+3+4=9, Point Count=9); the Point Count of a hand of 6, 8 and 9, is 3 Points (6+8+9=23, Point Count=3). There are 10 different point count hands and they are ranked in descending as follows: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 Point.

[0052] Thirteen individual cards count as follows: Card Count Value Two 2 Three 3 Four 4 Five 5 Six 6 Seven 7 Eight 8 Nine 9 Ten, Jack, Queen or King 0 Ace 1

[0053] A Player's Poker Bet wager can be settled with either one of the following rules, whichever is selected for the Poker Bet game:

[0054] Rules 1

[0055] If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand, the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If a Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money (1 to 1), less a certain percent commission, preferably a 5% commission

[0056] Rules 2

[0057] If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand or if the Player and the Banker have one of the predetermined Player losing tied hands (When a Player and the Banker have a same ranking hand, it is called a tied hand. When a Player and the Banker have a tied hand and that is considered a losing hand to the Player, it is called a Player losing tied hand.), then the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player and the Banker have a tied hand that is not one of the predetermined Player losing tied hands, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money (1 to 1).

[0058] Rules 3

[0059] If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand or if the Player and the Banker have a tie hand of 1, 2, or 3 Points, then the Player's Poker Set wager loses. If the Player and the Banker have a tied hand that is not 1, 2 or 3 Points then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money (1 to 1).

[0060] Rules 4

[0061] If the Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, the Player wins and either is paid even money (1 to 1) if the Banker's losing hand is not a predetermined hand that pays the winning wager one half of the wager (1 to 2), or is paid one half of the wager (1 to 2) if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined hand that pays the winning wager one half of the wager (1 to 2). The predetermined hand can be designed to be a hand of either 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8 or 9 Points.

[0062] 7 POINTS OR BETTER BET

[0063] 7 Points Or Better Bet allows a Player to place a wager on the contents of his or her own unseen hands The Player's wager wins if his or her hand is 7 Points, 8 Points, 9 Points, One Pair or 3 of a Kind; and this wager loses if the Player's hand is not one of the above winning hands. The winning wager is paid according to either one of the following pay tables:

[0064] Pay Table 1: Hand Payout Odds Three Aces 50 to 1 3 Twos through 3 Kings 35 to 1 Two Aces  5 to 1 2 Twos through 2 Kings  1 to 1 7, 8 or 9 Points  1 to 1

[0065] Pay Table 1 yields a house advantage of about 2.3%. Alternatively, any other appropriate pay table can be used.

[0066] Pay Table 2: Hand Payout Odds Three Aces 50 to 1 3 Twos through 3 Kings 30 to 1 Two Aces  3 to 1 2 Nines through 2 Kings  3 to 2 2 Twos through 2 Eights  1 to 1 7, 8 or 9 Points  1 to 1

[0067] Pay Table 2 yields a house advantage of about 2.63%. Alternatively, any other appropriate pay table can be used.

[0068] After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt three cards. In the preferred embodiment, each Player receives his or her own three cards dealt, and the Banker receives his or her own three cards, starting from the Player sitting to the immediate left of the dealer, continuing in a clockwise fashion and ending with the Banker. Cards are preferably dealt to each Player and to the Banker one card at a time for three times if the cards are shuffled by a dealer; the cards are preferably dealt to each Player and to the Banker in a stack of three cards if the cards are shuffled by a shuffling device. In an embodiment, seven hands of three cards are always dealt, regardless of the actual number of players; and some random number generation device such as a random number generator or a dice shaker, is used to assign the dealt hands to players to reduce the likelihood of problems in dealing. In other embodiments, each Player and the Banker, will receive their hand in either one of the following fashions:

[0069] 1. They receive their own two cards and one community card (A community card is a card that is shared by every Player and the Banker). And

[0070] 2. They receive their own one card and two community cards.

[0071] Once having delivered the cards to all players, the dealer turns over the Banker's three cards with only the top card exposed. After reading their cards, each Player then places his or her cards face down on the appropriate space of the table layout. The dealer then reveals the Banker's two remaining cards, settles the 7 Points Or Better Bet wager of the Player sitting at the immediate right of the dealer first if any, and then the Poker Bet wager of that Player if any, against the Banker. After completing the transaction of the Player at the immediate right of the dealer, the dealer moves on and completes the transaction of the next Player, and so on. Upon the completion of all transactions, a new round of play will begin.

CREATING OTHER VERSIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0072] The games of Poker Bet and 7 Points Or Better Bet are two subgames of the invention. Other versions of the invention can be created as follows:

[0073] 1. The invention consists of the game of Poker Bet only.

[0074] 2. The invention consists of the game of 7 Points Or Better Bet only. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a card game among a plurality of Players and a Banker, each Player wagering against the Banker. The method comprising the following steps: (a) providing and shuffling at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards; (b) each Player placing at least one wager of Poker Bet and 7 Points Or Better Bet; (c) dealing cards into enough dealt hands of three cards to provide a dealt hand for each Player and for the Banker; (d) determining which dealt hand is assigned to each Player and which dealt hand is assigned to the Banker; (e) determining whether each Player's 7 Points Or Better Bet wager wins or loses, if any; (f) settling each Player's 7 Points Or Better Bet wager against the Banker; (g) comparing each Player's hand to the Banker's hand according to the rankings selected for the Poker Bet game, wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 3 of a Kind, One Pair and Point Count; wherein 3 Aces is the highest 3 of a Kind, following by 3 Kings, 3 Queens, 3 Jacks, 3 Tens, 3 Nines, 3 Eights, 3 Seven, 3 Sixes, 3 Fives, 3 Fours, 3 Threes and 3 Twos; wherein 2 Aces is the highest rank of One Pair hands, following by 2 Kings, 2 Queens, 2 Jacks, 2 Tens, 2 Nines, 2 Eights, 2 Sevens, 2 Sixes, 2 Fives, 2 Fours, 2 Threes and 2 Twos; wherein if the Player and the Banker have an identical pair, then the third card of the Player is compared to the third card of the Banker according to the High Card rankings as follows: Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three and Two, and whoever has the higher third card win the bet; wherein if the Player and the Banker have an identical pair and an identical third card, then the two hands tie and neither the Player nor the Banker wins the bet; wherein 9 Points is the highest rank of Point Count hands, following by 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 Point; (h) determining whether each Player's Poker Bet wager wins, loses or ties, if any; (i) settling each Player's Poker Bet wager against the Banker.
 2. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein the card game uses one standard poker deck of 52 cards.
 3. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein the invention sits six Players and one Banker.
 4. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein the Players and the Banker each receives his or her own three cards.
 5. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein the Players and the Banker each receives his or her three cards in the combination of his or her own card or cards and the community card or cards.
 6. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein a Player's 7 Points Or Better Bet wager wins if the Player's hand is 7 Points, 8 Points, 9 Points, One Pair or 3 of a Kind; and this wager loses if the Player's hand is not one of the aforesaid winning hands.
 7. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6 , wherein 7 Points Or Better Bet pays 1 to 1 on a hand of 7 Points, 8 Points, 9 Points, 2 Twos, 2 Threes, 2 Fours, 2 Fives, 2 Sixes, 2 Sevens, 2 Eights, 2 Nines, 2 Tens, 2 Jacks, 2 Queens or 2 Kings, 5 to 1 on a hand of 2 Aces, 35 to 1 on a hand of 3 Twos, 3 Threes, 3 Fours, 3 Fives, 3 Sixes, 3 Sevens, 3 Eights, 3 Nines, 3 Tens, 3 Jacks, 3 Queens or 3 Kings, and 50 to 1 on a hand of 3 Aces.
 8. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6 , wherein 7 Points Or Better Bet pays 1 to 1 on a hand of 7 Points, 8 Points, 9 Points, 2 Twos, 2 Threes, 2 Fours, 2 Fives, 2 Sixes, 2 Sevens or 2 Eights, 3 to 2 on a hand of 2 Nines, 2 Tens, 2 Jacks, 2 Queens or 2 Kings, 3 to 1 on a hand of 2 Aces, 30 to 1 on a hand of 3 Twos, 3 Threes, 3 Fours, 3 Fives, 3 Sixes, 3 Sevens, 3 Eights, 3 Nines, 3 Tens, 3 Jacks, 3 Queens or 3 Kings, and 50 to 1 on a hand of 3 Aces.
 9. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein a Player's Poker Bet wager is settled against the Banker as follows: If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand, then the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If a Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. And If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a certain percent commission.
 10. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein a Player's Poker Bet wager is settled against the Banker as follows: If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand, the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If a Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. And If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a 5% commission.
 11. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein a Player's Poker Bet wager is settled against the Banker as follows: If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand or if the Player and the Banker have one of the predetermined Player losing tied hands, then the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player and the Banker have a tied hand that is not one of the predetermined Player losing tied hands, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to
 1. 12. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein a Player's Poker Bet wager is settled against the Banker as follows: If a Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's hand or if the Player and the Banker have a tie hand of 1, 2, or 3 Points, then the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player and the Banker have a tied hand that is not 1, 2 or 3 Points, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, this wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to
 1. 13. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 , wherein a Player's Poker Bet wager is settled against the Banker as follows: If the Player's hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's Poker Bet wager loses. If the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's, then the two hands tie and this wager neither wins nor loses. If the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's, the Player wins and either is paid even money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is not a predetermined hand that pays the winning wager one half of the wager, namely 1 to 2, or is paid one half of the wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined hand that pays the winning wager one half of the wager, namely 1 to
 2. 14. A method of playing a card game among a plurality of Players and a Banker, each Player wagering against the Banker. The method comprising the following steps: (a) providing and shuffling at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards; (b) each Player placing a Poker Bet wager; (c) dealing cards into enough dealt hands of three cards to provide a dealt hand for each Player and for the Banker, (d) determining which dealt hand is assigned to each Player and which dealt hand is assigned to the Banker; (e) comparing each Player's hand to the Banker's hand according to the rankings selected for the Poker Bet game, wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 3 of a Kind, One Pair and Point Count; wherein 3 Aces is the highest 3 of a Kind, following by 3 Kings, 3 Queens, 3 Jacks, 3 Tens, 3 Nines, 3 Eights, 3 Seven, 3 Sixes, 3 Fives, 3 Fours, 3 Threes and 3 Twos; wherein 2 Aces is the highest rank of One Pair hands, following by 2 Kings, 2 Queens, 2 Jacks, 2 Tens, 2 Nines, 2 Eights, 2 Sevens, 2 Sixes, 2 Fives, 2 Fours, 2 Threes and 2 Twos; wherein if the Player and the Banker have an identical pair, then the third card of the Player is compared to the third card of the Banker according to the High Card rankings as follows: Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three and Two, and whoever has the higher third card win the bet; wherein if the Player and the Banker have an identical pair and an identical third card, then the two hands tie and neither the Player nor the Banker wins the bet; wherein 9 Points is the highest rank of Point Count hands, following by 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 Point; (f) determining whether each Player's Poker Bet wager wins, loses or ties, if any; settling each Player's Poker Bet wager against the Banker.
 15. A method of playing a card game among a plurality of Players and a Banker, each Player wagering against the Banker. The method comprising the following steps: (a) providing and shuffling at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards; (b) each Player placing a 7 Points Or Better Bet wager; (c) dealing cards into enough dealt hands of three cards to provide a dealt hand for each Player and for the Banker; (d) determining which dealt hand is assigned to each Player and which dealt hand is assigned to the Banker; (e) determining whether each Player's 7 Points Or Better Bet wager wins or loses, if any; (f) settling each Player's 7 Points Or Better Bet wager against the Banker; 